Nevada and coal

Introduction
Nevada had 8 coal-fired generating stations in 2005, with 2,769 megawatts (MW) of capacity, representing 28.1% of the state's total electric generating capacity; Nevada ranks 33rd out of the 50 states in terms of coal energy production. In 2006, Nevada's coal-fired power plants produced 9.6 million tons of CO2, 9,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 15,000 tons of nitrogen oxide; coal-fired power plants were responsible for 22.3% of the state's total CO2 emissions. In 2005, Nevada emitted 17.9 tons of CO2 per person, about 10% below the U.S. average. (281 MW of Nevada's power capacity comes from geothermal energy - the second-highest total of any state in the country.)

There was no coal mining in Nevada in 2006.

History
There is no history of coal mining in Nevada. The coal power industry has historically also been very weak in Nevada, which is dominated by natural gas-fired energy production. However, the recent rise in energy prices in California has resulted in a rash of coal power plant proposals in Nevada; there are currently four active proposals, totaling 4,050 MW (which would more than double Nevada's existing coal-fired energy capacity). These proposals have sparked a series of intense political battles, at both the local and state levels.

Studies on Coal Use in Nevada
A study released in July 2010 by the Civil Society Institute argued that it was technically and economically viable to retire all coal and nuclear based power in seven Western states, including Washington.

The region covered in the study was said to have enough renewable sources of energy and, combined with energy conservation measures, the transition away from coal and nuclear could take place within 30 years time. In this scenario, according to the Civil Society Institute study, the entire Northwest could retire 11,000 megawatts of coal-fired power and add at least 12,000 megawatts of onshore wind power.

Legislative issues
In an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Reid Gardner Station began burning a mixture of biomass with coal. NV Energy, as part of the state energy portfolio standard, must produce 25% of its energy using renewable resources by 2025. However, lawmakers contend that burning biomass in coal-fired plants, with coal, was not what they envisioned. Additionally, another controversy has arisen over the wood from the Kaibab National Forest in Northern Arizona which is supplying the plant's biomass. Some critics contend that biomass actually is not a sustainable renewable energy resource.

Active

 * TS Power Plant, Dunphy, NV

On hold

 * Ely Energy Center, Ely, NV
 * White Pine Energy Station, White Pine County, NV

Cancelled

 * Gerlach Plant, Gerlach, NV
 * Toquop, Lincoln County, NV (Switched to natural gas)

Coal power companies

 * Sierra Pacific Resources
 * Headquarters in Reno, NV
 * Controls 6 coal-fired generating stations with 1133 MW total capacity
 * Active proposals: Ely Energy Center, Phase I
 * Edison International
 * Sithe Global Power
 * Dynegy / LS Power

Existing coal plants
Nevada had 8 coal-fired generating stations in 2005, with 2,769 MW of capacity - representing 28.1% of the state's total electric generating capacity. Here is a list of coal power plants in Nevada with capacity over 400 MW: These 3 plants represent 100% of Nevada's coal energy generating capacity, 22.3% of the state's total CO2 emissions, and 31.9% of its total SO2 emissions.

This is a map of the plants - click on the locations shown for plant details:

Mohave Generating Station
Mohave Generating Station is a non-operational 1640 megawatt coal fired power plant located in Laughlin, Nevada, near the border of California and Arizona. Southern California Edison is the majority owner of the plant and was its operator. The plant has been shut down since 2005. Coal for the plant was transported in a 273 mile long slurry pipeline from the Peabody Energy Black Mesa coal mine, located on lands belonging to the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe.

In 2005, the Mohave Generating Station ceased operations due to a Clean Air Act lawsuit and because Navajo and Hopi tribes passed resolutions ending Peabody’s use of the Black Mesa aquifer. According to the EPA, the coal plant was the dirtiest in the Western U.S., emitting up to 40,000 tons of sulfur dioxide per year. Southern California Edison chose to shut down the plant rather than upgrade it to acceptable pollution standards.

Drinking water contaminated with hexavalent chromium from coal may cause cancer
A report released by EarthJustice and the Sierra Club in early February 2011 stated that there are many health threats associated a toxic cancer-causing chemical found in coal ash waste called hexavalent chromium. The report specifically cited 29 sites in 17 states where the contamination was found. The information was gathered from existing EPA data on coal ash and included locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Massachusetts, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virgina and Wisconsin. In Nevada, the Reid Gardner Station in Moapa was reported as having high levels of chromium seeping into groundwater.

As a press release about the report read:


 * Hexavalent chromium first made headlines after Erin Brockovich sued Pacific Gas & Electric because of poisoned drinking water from hexavalent chromium. Now new information indicates that the chemical has readily leaked from coal ash sites across the U.S. This is likely the tip of the iceberg because most coal ash dump sites are not adequately monitored.

Reid Gardner coal-ash landfill expansion moves forward
On April 28, 2011 NV Energy moved a step closer toward expanding its controversial landfill for toxic coal-ash waste at its power plant near Moapa, Nevada.

Southern Nevada Health District's board directed its staff to proceed with finalizing conditions for a permit it approved in October 2011 to expand the Reid Gardner Station's landfill, paving the way for 35 more years of operating the coal-fired plant. Moapa Band of Paiutes and the Sierra Club opposed the expansion, noting that it would likely lead to an increase in local water contamination.

Major coal mines
There are no major coal mines in Nevada.

Citizen groups

 * Bristlecone Alliance
 * Friends of Nevada Wilderness
 * Nevada Clean Energy Coalition
 * Nevada Conservation League
 * Sierra Club Nevada Chapter
 * Stop Toquop
 * Western Shoshone Defense Project

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Existing U.S. Coal Mines
 * Existing U.S. Coal Plants
 * Coal plants cancelled in 2007
 * Coal plants cancelled in 2008
 * Mohave Generating Station
 * Profiles of other states (or click on the map)